Outer Space is larger than we can really understand. Although our solar system is large, it is just a small part of an even bigger are called a Galaxy. A galaxy is a large collection of stars, glowing nebulae (clouds), gas, and dust bound together by gravity. Many scientists now believe that a black hole, the remains of a massive star, lies at the center of many galaxies. Galaxies are as plentiful in the universe as grains of sand on a beach. The galaxy that contains our solar system is called the Milky Way. The Milky Way is part of a cluster of some 30 galaxies known as the Local Group, and the Local Group is part of a local supercluster that includes many clusters.
Although astronomers are not yet sure how galaxies formed and evolved, the process must have occurred quickly very early in the history of the universe. The age of the oldest galaxies appears to be about the same age as the universe, which is estimated to be 10 to 13 billion years old. (read article here)
The Milky way is the galaxy that we live in. You could think of it in smaller terms to better understand. You could imagine that the Milky Way is like the country that you live in. Your solar system is like the state or province and the planet would be like your town.
The Milky Way We live on the outer reaches of just one of the arms of this vast galaxy. Just imagine what else could share our galaxy with us! The arm that our solar system is located on is called the Orion Arm.
Here we can see just how the galaxy may have formed and where we fit into the bigger picture.
The Universe
Outer Space is larger than we can really understand. Although our solar system is large, it is just a small part of an even bigger are called a Galaxy. A galaxy is a large collection of stars, glowing nebulae (clouds), gas, and dust bound together by gravity. Many scientists now believe that a black hole, the remains of a massive star, lies at the center of many galaxies. Galaxies are as plentiful in the universe as grains of sand on a beach. The galaxy that contains our solar system is called the Milky Way. The Milky Way is part of a cluster of some 30 galaxies known as the Local Group, and the Local Group is part of a local supercluster that includes many clusters.
Although astronomers are not yet sure how galaxies formed and evolved, the process must have occurred quickly very early in the history of the universe. The age of the oldest galaxies appears to be about the same age as the universe, which is estimated to be 10 to 13 billion years old. (read article here)
The Milky way is the galaxy that we live in. You could think of it in smaller terms to better understand. You could imagine that the Milky Way is like the country that you live in. Your solar system is like the state or province and the planet would be like your town.
The Milky Way
We live on the outer reaches of just one of the arms of this vast galaxy. Just imagine what else could share our galaxy with us! The arm that our solar system is located on is called the Orion Arm.
Here we can see just how the galaxy may have formed and where we fit into the bigger picture.